IDF eliminates terrorists disguised as World Central Kitchen aid workers
WCK confirmed that those videoed operating from a vehicle marked with its logo were not affiliated with the charity
The IDF has eliminated five armed terrorists who had disguised themselves as World Central Kitchen staff, with the food aid charity confirming that the group had posed as its operatives.
World Central Kitchen, founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres, responded after the IDF released a video on Tuesday showing the activity. Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, the IDF’s international spokesperson, described the video showing “five armed terrorists operating within a vehicle marked with a fake ‘World Central Kitchen’ emblem, despite having no affiliation with the organization. They wore yellow vests and cynically exploited the trust given to aid groups to conceal their activity.” The IDF subsequently eliminated the five terrorists.
WCK confirmed that it was “contacted by Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) and confirmed the vehicle and persons of interest were not affiliated with WCK.
“We strongly condemn anyone posing as WCK or other humanitarians as this endangers civilians and aid workers. The safety and security of our teams are our top priority.”
The IDF said: “Hamas and other terrorist organizations exploit the humanitarian effort to advance terrorist objectives at the expense of the welfare of the population in Gaza. The IDF, through COGAT, will continue to work in cooperation with international aid organizations to prevent their exploitation for terrorist purposes,”
In 2024, an Israeli air strike killed seven WCK staff, including three British citizens. The IDF’s preliminary investigation found that “Those who approved the strike were convinced that they were targeting armed Hamas operatives and not WCK employees. The strike on the aid vehicles is a grave mistake stemming from a serious failure due to a mistaken identification, errors in decision-making, and an attack contrary to the Standard Operating Procedures.” An IDF major and a Colonel in reserve were dismissed from their positions, and multiple senior officers, including the head of the army’s southern command, were formally reprimanded.
The IDF’s chief of staff at the time, Herzi Halevi, described WCK as “an organization whose people work across the globe, including in Israel, to do good in difficult conditions. The IDF works together closely with the World Central Kitchen and greatly appreciates the important work that they do.”
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